Dispensing carton



June 24, 1958 H. N. NELSON DISPENSING CARTON Filed May 31, 1955 Emma/v! 72915092 United States Patent 2,840,266 DISPENSING 'cARroN Howard N. Nelson, Neenah, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 31, 1955,Serial No. 511,841

1 Claim. (Cl. 221-48) The present invention relates to a dispensing carton' for sheet material which is arranged in a stack so as to be self-feeding, as the sheets are withdrawn from the stack, and it has especial utility in connection with interfolded tissues of the type known as cleansing tissues facial tissue or the like.

In the packaging of sheet material which is to be dispensed one at a time, particularly interfolded sheets of cleansing tissues and the like, it is desirable to use a carton which is provided with a relatively small sheet dispensing openingand to have the sheets arranged in a stack within the carton so that as each sheet is withdrawn it causes the succeeding sheet to follow and remain partially extending through the dispensing opening; Restricting the area of the sheet dispensing opening is important for sanitary reasons, it being undesirable to have any great portion of the stack of sheets exposed to collect dirt etc. The feature of having a self-feeding arrangement for the several sheets in the stack is an obvious convenience.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing carton for sheets arranged in the above described manner, and especially interfolded tissues of the cleansing type. More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a carton having a novel form of dispensing opening. p

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a' carton embodying a dispensing opening in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the carton of Figure 1 in use;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2, taken at the I lines 33;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2;

. Figures 5 through 7 are plan views of three modified forms of the invention.

Despite the factthat very large numbers of dispensing cartons are in daily use, especially in the dispensingof interfolded cleansing tissues and similar products, the available cartons are not wholly satisfactory. This is particularly true in cartons for dispensing the larger size package of tissues, i. e., those containing a relatively large number of sheets.

With products such as tissues the atmospheric conditions, particularly humidity, and the method of handling the product in its formation and packaging greatly affect its bulk- Consequently, a stack 'of tissues containing, for example, 400 separable units or sheets may vary as much as one and one-half inches in height. It will be apparent, therefore, that a suitable carton must accomice of sheets. It is desirable and customary, therefore, to providecartons of, a size which accommodate average bulk tissue.

When high bulk tissue is made, and a substantial amount of all tissue is in this classification, the cartons are very tightly filled, and it is very diflicult to withdraw the upper tissues without tearing them. This problem increases with the number of tissues in the package, since the pressure exerted by the tissues on the top of the carton increases accordingly and makes it more difiicult to separate and remove the top few tissues.

The packaged tissues are 'desirably interfolded so as to make possible sequential, one-at-a-time feeding of the tissues from the carton. In one of the more popular types of interfolding, each individual tissue, which is usually of duplex construction, is folded intermediate its length in contact with a second tissue, in such relationship that the fold in one tissue essentially coincides with the severance line in the other tissue. By this arrangement, the withdrawal of one tissue moves a portion of the next adjacent tissue through the dispensing opening in the carton and makes possible the desired convenient, one-at-a-time feeding. The sequential feeding of the sheets is additionally assured, in one instance, by providing a very light bond between the tissues. This bond aids in pulling thesucceeding sheet from the carton but is easily broken to separate the uppermost sheet from the pack. I I

It is difiic'ult, however, in utilizing known types of dis pensing cartons to maintain sequential feeding when the tissues get low in the box, particularly with stacks having greater than about to 200 double ply, single folded sheets. In the known types of cartons there is a tendency for the tissues to fall back into the'box after. the top sheet has been separated from the pack, and in the deeper boxes it isdifiicult to reach the tissues near the bottom of the box once they have dropped back into the box. The present invention overcomes, both of the abovementioned' difiiculties and provides a' carton which can accommodate either high'bulk or low bulk tissue Without hampering the Withdrawal of the initial sheets, while maintaining the proper sequential feeding of the" tissues throughout the entire'pack. Further, the present invention facilitates the opening of the carton and provides better access to the tissue stack, if such becomes necessary for any reason, without exposing any great area of th stack when the carton isin its open condition.

With reference now to, the drawings, wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, it is seen that there is provided a carton 10 having a dispensing opening 12 defined in the top of the carton. More particularly, as seen in Figure 4, the carton is formed from a generally rectangularly-shaped, paperboard ,blank 14 having fold or crease lines 16 therein defining the bottom 18, top 20 and side Walls or panels 22 and 24. Each of these walls include tab portions at opposite ends thereof for forming the ends 26 of the carton, and there is also provided a narrow strip 28 adjacentthe free side of the bottom defining wall 18 of the blank to afford means for securing the bottom to the side wall 24.

The dispensing opening 12 is preferably formed by a perforate line 30 in the top panel 20 which extend 'between diagonally opposite corners of the carton; As illustrated inFigure '1, the line 30, which may be a continuous cut 'if'desired, starts at one corner and curves to the center of the top panel 20, and then takes an oppositely curving, similar path and terminates at the diagonally oppositecorner. In this manner, the curved dispensing opening is symmetrical with respect to the intersection of the longitudinal and the transverse axes of the carton and may be described as being centrosymmetrical.

therefrom, and thus prevents tippingof the box during suchuse I M It is also important that the dispensing opening extends across the length of the .cartomthat is, the dimension of the carton which extendsinthe directionof the fold of the tissues. The top of thecarton is thereby divided lengthwise into relatively narrow sectionswhich arequite flexible and which yield more readily to the pressure of ,the" tissue pack. Furthermore, the type of opening affordedby the present invention exposesvirtually none of the surface area of the tissue pack in the carton when in T use. Thus the pack is etfectively protectedat all times from any contamination by dirt, etc., from without the carton. I

The dispensing opening 30 is preferably formed by. a single line perforation, so, that the adjoining edges of the top panel remain in substantial contact after the carton is opened. Further, since the abuttingedges are quite flexible, because of the relatively long, and narrow top panel portions formed in opening the box along the line 30,

much of the pressure of the pack on the carton top is relieved and easy access to the upper sheet and free withdrawal thereof is afforded. Asa sheet is withdrawn, there is sufficient parting of the edges of the dispensing opening to permit easy withdrawal of the tissue.

Howeven asuthe tension on the sheet is released, the

edges resume their generally coplanar, abutting relationship .and grasp the projecting sheet therebetween. This feature is important in preventing the sheet from falling back into the box. Thus with interfolded sheets, or similar arrangementsfor providing sequential feeding of the tissues, the succeeding sheet is always held in partially I projecting relation to the carton in position for use.

The curvature thus provided for the limp tissue sheet provides sufiicient rigidity for the sheet to cause it to assume a generally, normally extended relation to the box, as

to note that the curving o deviat they are withdrawnand left projecting from the carton.

seen in Figure 2. Thus the' sheet is maintained readily accessible at all times and does not tend to lay across the top of the box, as is the natural. tendency of the limp sheets ordinarily used for cleansing tissues and the like.

A' further advantage to' the single line, or slit type of opening disclosed herein, is that it aidsin preventing the feeding of a plurality of sheetsthrough the opening and restricts the withdrawal to a desirable one-at-a-time procedure. Where a wider opening of two dimensions is provided, it hasbeen found that as the stack of sheets in the carton gets low, the withdrawal of atissue frequently carries with it one or more additional sheets which can readily pass through thelwider opening. With the restricted opening provided herein,'there is little opportunity for this to happen. Further, the curving disposition of the dispensing opening distributes the withdrawal or pulling force on the upper folded tissue in a manner such that it tends to peel the folded tissue from the pack,

rather than lift it in a more direct manner as when a 'straightslottcd opening isused. This novel manner of withdrawing the tissue tends to discourage the lifting of more than the desiredsingle tissue, which will be followed by the interfolded, or otherwise associated, succeeding tissue in the intended manner.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 5, wherein the top panel 40 of a carton 42, otherwise similar to that disclosed in Figures 1-4, includes a curving dispensing opening 44 which extends lengthwise of the box between the opposite ends thereof. The opening 44 is again preferably formed by a curved perforated line which is disposed in centrosymmetrical relationto the intersection of the transverse and longitudinal axes of the carton and which curve extends generally along the latter axis. In order to provide sufiicient flexing of the two sections of the carton top, when the perforated line is broken, it is necessary that a minimum amount of curvature be provided for the line 44. In this respect, it is believed that for a carton having a width w the maximum ordinate of the curved opening, as indicated at a, should preferably be at least /sw. It will be understood that while the line 44 should be symmetrically disposed with respect to the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse axes, it is not essential that the ends of the line be disposed on the longitudinal axis and may be spaced therefrom as indicated in Figure 5.

A further modification is illustrated in Figure 6, wherein the 'top panel 50 of a carton 52, otherwise similar to those above, has a curving dispensing opening 54 which extends lengthwise of the carton and terminates at positions spaced intermediate the longitudinal center line and the-corner of the box. The opening 54 is centrosyrnrnetrical with respect to the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse'axes of the box in order to balance the tissue withdrawal forces on the box, andatfords a flexing of the top of the carton in the above described manner. V Still another modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 7, wherein the dispensing opening60 in the top panel 62 of a carton 64 includes a central, straight line portion 66.. The extension of the central portion 66 is in the nature of a pair of similar but oppositely curving slits which terminate at positions spaced from diagonally opposite corners of the carton. If desired, of course, the opening 60 may end at the corners of the box in the manner of the dispensing opening 12 of Figure 1, or may extend to the ends of the box in the manner of the opening 54 in Figure 6. I

It is also to be noted that the opening 60 in Figure 7 is centro-symmetrical with respect to the intersection of the longitudinal axis x and the transverse axis y of the carton, as in the previous embodiments. Thus the carton top is divided lengthwise. into two similar portions which are flexible to provide the advantages discussed above.

With reference now to the several embodiments described above, it is believed that a summation of some of the common characteristics of such embodiments will serve to more clearly present the invention. First of all the centre-symmetrical feature of the curved openin gs is important in providing a balanced condition during withdrawal of the tissues and in affording a maximum relief of the bulk pressure on the top of the carton. Further, it is important to achieving best results that the dispensing opening in the carton top be substantially longer than the width of the tissue sheets, that is, the dimension along the fold orrlengthwise of the box, as defined. In this respect, it is preferable that the dispensing openings terminate within the end fourth of the carton top. g i I t It has also been determined that for best results the 'line intersecting the ends of the curved opening should pass through the center of the carton top and form an angle no greater than 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis. This is illustrated in Figure .7 wherein the line d--al joins the ends of the curved opening 60 and thus defines with the longitudinal axis x the angle a. The

center of the top is, of course, the intersection of the longitudinal axis x and the transverse axis y.

Some of the factors in determining the particular curve to be used for the dispensing opening are the weight and rigidity of the cardboard used in making the carton. These factors, as well as the amount and type of paper to be dispensed, will all influence the bulk pressure on the carton top and the reaction thereto and should be considered in selecting an opening.

It is also important that the dispensing opening terminate at its opposite ends at an edge portion of the box, if full benefit is to be gained as to the flexibility of the carton top in yielding to the bulk pressure of the tissues.

Then too, it should be appreciated that by providing a curved dispensing opening in the general manner described, there is in effect provided a variable Width opening which will open in accordance with the bulk pressure on the carton top. Further, such openings effectively seal the tissue against contamination at all times and yet afford adequate access to the inside of the carton in the event it is desired to withdraw a bundle of tissues.

The described invention is also advantageous in gaining initial customer acceptance of the carton in that there is nothing to tear out and the box is very simple to open. Also, substantially all of the carton top area is constantly in view during use and advantage may be taken of a greater area for decorating the top and for advertising the enclosed product.

It is seen. therefore, that there is provided by the present invention a novel form of carton which is particularly advantageous in the dispensing of separable sheet material, such as cleansing tissues and the like, which is interfolded or otherwise arranged for sequential feeding, for example, by a suitable bonding between continuously arranged sheets. The disclosed arrangements for the dispensing opening permits flexing of the carton to relieve the pressure on the tissues so that they may be easily Withdrawn without tearing, while maintaining a maximum amount of permanent coverage of the packaged tissues. Furthermore, the disclosed forms of opening provide a fixed and curving disposition of V readily grasped and withdrawn for use.

the sheets which aids appreciably in keeping the upper tissue in extended relation to the box, where it can be The disclosed arrangement also prevents the extended sheet from falling back into the box, which is particularly troublesome when the tissue is fairly well depleted in a relatively deep box. The invention is not limited in its application to any particular manner of providing for selffeeding of the sheets or any particular type of interfolding and can be used to advantage with any of the known arrangements.

Although shown and described with respect to particular embodiments, it will be apparent that other modifications might readily be made to secure the advantages of the invention without departing from the principles thereof. It should also be understood that the top panel referred to in the disclosure is the panel from which the tissue is dispensed and, therefore, may be what might otherwise be considered a bottom, side or end panel in a particular arrangement. Further, while certain advantages are gained by providing a perforated line for the dispensing opening, a complete cut or another form of partial severance may also be used.

I claim: r A carton for dispensing interfolded sheets which are arranged in a stack, said carton comprising means defining the walls of a generally rectangularly-shaped paperboard box having top, bottom, side and end panels, and means defining a dispensing opening in the top panel of said carton comprising a curved, linear cut extending from one corner of the carton to the diagonally opposite corner and arranged in centrosymmetrical relation to the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse axes of said top panel. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 152,665 Weiss Feb. 8, 1949 2,407,919 Buttery Sept. 17, 1946 2,580,982 Weiss Jan. 1, 1952 

